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Citizen Science Condition Monitoring in the Carolinas

A. Farris and J. Davis with the CISA Team CoCoRaHS rain gauge

CISA is working with volunteers throughout the Carolinas to improve our understanding of how drought impacts ecosystems and communities. Using tools developed by the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network these citizen scientists take daily rainfall measurements and submit weekly condition monitoring reports to share information about how recent rainfall, or a lack thereof, has affected the plants, animals, and people in their area.

Regular reporting helps us to identify expected seasonal changes versus changes caused by unseasonal wet or dry weather conditions. Reports can also reveal the onset, intensification, or recovery from wetter or drier than normal conditions. The information volunteers submit is used by the state climate offices, National Weather Service offices, and others to help inform drought-related decisions.

CISA team members have developed a web map to display condition monitoring reports spatially and in conjunction with other contextual information such as the current US Drought Monitor Map. Check out the web map at www.cisa.sc.edu/map. Please also consider providing feedback about your interaction with the map to help us continue to improve its functionality.

The links on this page provide additional resources to learn more about the project. Be sure to check out the “Cuckoo for CoCoRaHS in the Carolinas” blog and our monthly newsletter to get the latest news and updates about the project.

If you would like to volunteer for this project, please complete the Volunteer Information Form and e-mail it to Amanda Farris at afarris@sc.edu or mail it to:
Amanda Farris
c/o USC Geography Department
709 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201